PLANS to create a joint venture to develop Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, near Warrington and bring more than 10,000 jobs to the area over the next 15-20 years have taken a significant step forward.
Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus Ltd, set up by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), North West Development Agency (NWDA) and Halton Borough Council along with the Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester, has appointed legal and property specialists to help them find a private sector company and secure Daresbury’s place as one of the world’s key
locations for scientific, innovation and entrepreneurial collaboration.
International law firm Eversheds and property experts King Sturge will play a key role in bringing public sector partners the STFC, NWDA and local council together with a commercial partner to set up a successful company which will develop one million sq ft of science and innovation facilities, buildings and infrastructure.
The deal will allow them to share the cost of the campus development with a private sector company, while benefiting from their experience and expertise.
The joint venture should see the local, regional and national economy benefit from investment in world-class scientific research and innovation from at home and abroad, more joint working between different organisations located on the campus, open up access to science and technology facilities to industry and support the creation and growth of new science and technology related businesses.
Professor Colin Whitehouse, director of Campus Strategy and deputy chief executive of the STFC said: “Daresbury has a long heritage of providing cutting-edge and innovative science that is known the world over, and the development of the campus will ensure that this proud tradition continues for many years to come. The investment being made by the joint venture partners into developing the campus will not only have a significant and positive influence on science and technology in the UK, but importantly it will demonstrate the impact that investment in science-related sectors can have on the local, regional and national economy.”
The formal process of selecting a private sector partner will start in late July/August when a notice is published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It is expected that the private sector partner will be selected in early 2010, with the joint venture company in place and ready to move forward with the next stage of the development in April 2010.
The expansion of the Science and Innovation Campus enhances plans for the wider development of the area which includes residential housing and the growth of Daresbury Business Park.
3 Comments
Great news, but does that mean another 10,000 cars on the roads of Warrington?
Why would it put 10,000 cars on the roads of Warrington? The science park would be at the junction of the motorway networks and there would be no need for huge amounts of traffic to come any where near Warrington.
While there would be some impact on local roads and don’t think it would be any where near as bad as you fear – in fact witht eh number of people losing their jobs over the past 12 months and next 12 months it will probably retain the status quo!
What kind of jobs and what kind of housing development? Are these going to be of the type we actually need in Warrington? Or will these developments be merely providing employment opportunities and housing for people from outside of the town and thus adding to the traffic congestion problems?????